What to Look For When Buying a Used JDM Engine?

"Luken10" (luken10)
09/14/2016 at 14:30 • Filed to: None

I’m getting ready to move forward with fixing my car. I just want to make sure I don’t get a dud of an engine before I go ahead with my shade tree mechanic shenanigans.

Every seller claims, “compression tested” “40k -60k miles” “ONLY THE BEST.” How do I make sure they aren’t full of crap?

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Is it just me or have the pulleys been repainted?

I’m in Southern California if anyone has any good local sellers.

DISCUSSION (33)

Party-vi > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:31

What to look for? Homeland Security agents attempting to seize your shit. It’s illegal to install a JDM engine into a USDM vehicle for road use if the engine does not conform to EPA emissions requirements.

ETA: Socal is not going to give a shit, but the feds might.

RallyWrench > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:33

SoCal is going to give a shit, our smog laws are no joke and they routinely run stings on shady shops so most smog techs are hawkeyes.

DutchieDC2R > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:34

The pulleys dont have to be repainted necessarily, if all the belts have been changed (usually including all the pulleys that drive the belts) it might explain why the pulleys look brand new (because they are).

Party-vi > RallyWrench
09/14/2016 at 14:35

If the car passes smog though, SoCal won’t care and will allow the vehicle to be registered. Do your smog laws check the emissions equipment on the engines other than a visual inspection and sniffer/OBD test?

Future next gen S2000 owner > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:37

A buddy of mine just imported a 2.0 STI motor (plus 10K and Harry’s and had it overnighted), he did his homework thoroughly. Don’t go cheap. Only buy from sellers that have a good reputation. If you haven’t heard of them and the forums haven’t either, stay away.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:38

If he can get it to pass emission, he should be okay.

RallyWrench > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:38

If it’s an OBD car and the monitors are set it’ll pass, but the hoops the car has to jump through to pass them are often a pain in the ass so a non-standard engine likely won’t without ECM or sensor tampering. The visual is taken very seriously.

Party-vi > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/14/2016 at 14:42

For California, sure, but the EPA does not give a shit about a state smog inspection. They want their stamps and stickers on the engine emission equipment

Party-vi > RallyWrench
09/14/2016 at 14:43

Would they just deny a pass or would they crush it? I feel like California would just issue a repair order or something while the Feds would crush it.

Luken10 > RallyWrench
09/14/2016 at 14:43

This engine is pretty much plug and play. I shouldn’t have to tamper with anything to make sure the OBD readiness tests are good to go.

Luken10 > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:44

It’s just a visual check + OBD. No sniffer.

crowmolly > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:45

$600 for a running engine seems like a grab bag.

Compression test is nice, but no leakdown?

Luken10 > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:45

While I’m not 100% sure, I’m pretty certain this engine has all of the same emissions equipment as the stock motor. Good to know, though.

Luken10 > crowmolly
09/14/2016 at 14:47

I haven’t found a single importer that advertises they do a leakdown test. Would definitely be reassuring.

Luken10 > DutchieDC2R
09/14/2016 at 14:48

Didn’t really think of that. Now that you mention it, there doesn’t seem to be much wear on the contact area of the pulleys.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:49

Apart from what everyone mentioned, fuel pressure regulators and vacuum equipment seem to get smashed in the container with regularity.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:49

Do they actually look for the stamps? Or just hook up the OBD and tail-pipe for a dyno run. I don’t see the Feds getting involved at all. The motor is already through customs.

IDK, California is the special child of the US. I just know, in Colorado, it is easier to swap in an import engine. The difficulty actually lies in proving the engine wasn’t stolen.

Luken10 > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/14/2016 at 14:50

I’m having a hard time finding a reputable place that sells this engine. It’s for a Mazda Protege, so it isn’t exactly in high demand. A lot of the high profile, reputable shops don’t have it in stock.

RallyWrench > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:50

No crush, the smog program doesn’t have the authority for that. It would probably be sent to a referee, which can either be easy or a complete nightmare.

Party-vi > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 14:51

You should be OK if that is true. I doubt anything would come of it, but technically ....

Luken10 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
09/14/2016 at 14:52

I was thinking about that. It’s one reason why I want to buy local. I saw some photos of the way the engines get shipped overseas. The are pretty much just stacked on top of eachother.

Luken10 > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/14/2016 at 14:53

They don’t even do the tail-pipe sniffer if your car is new enough in California. They do a visual to make sure anything aftermarket is CARB legal.

Luken10 > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 14:54

It’s always good to know the law! I’m not too worried, though.

Party-vi > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/14/2016 at 14:57

I’m not saying the Feds would necessarily get involved, but it is illegal to install a non-EPA compliant motor into a car being driven on US roads.

RallyWrench > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 15:00

Ah, I see. I wasn’t sure if it was a non-standard unit.

Luken10 > RallyWrench
09/14/2016 at 15:05

Just higher compression and a different intake manifold. Nothing that I imagine a smog tech would notice.

RallyWrench > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 15:10

You’d be surprised about manifolds, some guys are really sharp.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Party-vi
09/14/2016 at 15:20

Right, but if you bring it into compliance, you are good to go.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 15:21

Would it be worth it to place an order and wait until they find it?

Luken10 > RallyWrench
09/14/2016 at 15:24

Worst case scenario I put on the original manifold on for smog. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that if they do notice!

Luken10 > Future next gen S2000 owner
09/14/2016 at 15:26

Might be worth a shot. I have some automotive events coming up soon that I wanted to be ready for. Won’t matter though if the engine blows up!

Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube > Luken10
09/14/2016 at 15:26

Purchased many used/JDM engines before so here are my tips:

- Buy a compression tester/gauge
- Bring a battery and jumper cables with you to go see the engine
- They usually have a whole floor/shelves littered with engine to choose from
- Pop the oil fill cap and look inside and also under the cap for buildup/clean internals (choose the engine that is the cleanest obviously)
- Check the bell housing for signs of excessive clutch dust (abuse)
- Most of these engines are complete with harness and all accessories cut from the car
- Remove spark plugs and put in your compression tester
- Put your black jumper cable on a solid mounting point
- Put your red jumper cable directly on the post for the starter motor and crank the engine
- Check for about 10% deviation between cylinders

That’s about as much/all you can do from my experience :D

Luken10 > Boosted2k - I Make Videos and Put Them on YouTube
09/14/2016 at 15:28

This is good advice, thank you!